COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF TWO METHODS MOUTH WASH (CHLORHEXIDINE AND CHLORHEXIDINE COMBINED WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION) ON FREQUENCY OF ORAL PLAQUES IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Oral care in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation is one of the essential requirements of nursing practice, the present study was carried out in order to determine the effect of two methods mouth wash (chlorhexidine and chlorhexidine combined with hydrogen peroxide solution) on the frequency of oral plaques in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. This study is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial with parallel design on two groups of patients admitted to the critical care units of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia, in which 98 patients with inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to two groups A and B. Intervention in group A was oral care with chlorhexidine mouthwash (0.2%) and in group B (0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide solution). Data collection tools included demographic characteristic form, Beck oral assessment scale, and Mucosal-Plaque Score. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 20, chi-square, independent t, and Mann-Whitney statistical test. There was a significant statistical difference between the two groups of chlorhexidine mouthwash and chlorhexidine mouthwash with hydrogen peroxide in terms of oral plaque, oral mucosal health, and ultimately Mucosal-Plaque Score (P <0.05). Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that chlorhexidine mouthwash with hydrogen peroxide can be effective in preventing or reducing the frequency of oral plaques in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.